Caddo Magnet senior Johnum Palado catapulted Sunday morning’s Citizens National Bank FCA Independence Bowl breakfast off to a rousing start with a violin solo of the National Anthem.

Southern Miss coach Jay Hopson, who brought what appeared to be his entire team to the annual event at the Shreveport Convention Center, followed Palado’s performance with a testimony about a friend who recently passed away.

“I had a dear friend, who didn’t believe in Christ, but who was a good man and would give you the shirt off his back,” Hopson began. “He became involved with a major illness and died several times. He was in a coma for over a month. When I went to see him, he told me that he had seen the face of Jesus and that there is a devil.

“’I didn’t believe in any of that stuff. I thought the devil was hocus pocus,’ my friend said. That was very inspiring to me, because the devil will come at you in many different ways. To hear a non-believer say that to me one month ago removes any doubt for me.”

Caddo Magnet senior Johnum Palado plays the National Anthem on his violin during the FCA Breakfast Sunday morning at the Shreveport Convention Center.(Photo: Claude Price/Contributed photo)

Florida State had one table of approximately 8-10 athletes attend the breakfast with Dervin Taylor II and Landon Dickerson speaking for the Seminoles. Interim head coach Odell Haggins did not attend.

"I've gone through two season-ending injuries, so it was easy to get down," Dickerson said. "But knowing there is a plan for me kept me from doing things that might bring me down."